CEU headed toward USU affiliation

PRICE — Kelton Wells grew up in Price, knowing he'd get an associate degree from the College of Eastern Utah. He's now delaying a church mission a few months so he can be sure that his diploma identifies the same CEU he's grown to love.

"There is an indescribable atmosphere here," he said, adding that he'd "like to keep it that way."

Wells attended two public meetings held at CEU on Monday afternoon, hoping his voice would be heard in an impending Board of Regents decision involving CEU and further affiliation with Utah State University, a larger, sister institution in the Utah System of Higher Education.

"You've made up your minds and we haven't been included in the preliminary discussions surrounding this issue," Wells told the task force, voicing a concern that the community was overlooked. He said the school could survive on the track it was headed if only it had permanent leadership and a solid funding ground to stand on.

"There's just not the money, not the critical mass, not the base in your demographics, including a shrinking number of graduates coming out of the high schools here, to ultimately ensure the long-term viability of your institution," said Regent David Jordan, chairman of the task force.

Jordan presented the task force's recommendation that CEU become a comprehensive regional college within the USU system. Other options include phasing out CEU, continuing with the status quo, becoming a regional campus of USU or the ultimate option of maintaining its own college status but affiliating with USU.

USU operates regional campuses in Brigham City, Tooele and the Uintah Basin and would take on some of the same responsibilities at CEU, including governance, personnel issues, finances and facility management. CEU, however, would likely remain a community college with a strong career and technical education mission and rich historical character, as well as be led by its own chancellor, who would report to USU's president and the Board of Regents.

The idea doesn't sit well with many of the students, faculty, staff and community members, however many were mindful the school needs change.

Enrollment woes, along with the rising costs of running the less than 1,500-head count institution, coupled with economic recession that has the institution headed toward the proverbial brick wall, one that local folks believe is avoidable.